Floating image generation device and floating image touch-control device

ABSTRACT

A floating image generation device is disclosed, which includes a light source, an image generation module, and a floating image generation unit. The image generation module is disposed above the light source and includes a shading unit and an image generation unit. The shading unit is capable of changing light transmissivity state. The image generation unit is disposed above the shading unit. The floating image generation unit is disposed above the image generation unit. The light source emits a light passing through the shading unit, the image generation unit, and the floating image generation unit to generate a first floating image when the shading unit is in a first light transmissivity state. The light source emits a light passing through the shading unit, the image generation unit, and the floating image generation unit to generate a second floating image when the shading unit is in a second light transmissivity state.

BACKGROUND Cross-Reference to Related Application

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 110137386 filed on Oct. 7, 2021. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a floating image generation device anda floating image touch-control device.

RELATED ART

Conventional control buttons are mostly mechanical or sensing buttonstriggered by physical touch. In other words, users have to touch buttonsor panels during operation. To avoid the spread of bacteria or virusthis way, touch-control panels having floating image touch-controlfunctions are used. However, user experience of current touch-controlpanels is still improvable since it is hard to tell if a touch-controlpanel having floating-image touch-control functions is triggered.

SUMMARY

One of objectives of the present invention is to provide a floatingimage generation device, capable of making the images changeable.

One of objectives of the present invention is to provide a floatingimage touch-control device, capable of providing better user'sexperience.

The floating image generation device of the present invention includes alight source, an image generation module, and a floating imagegeneration unit. The image generation module is disposed above the lightsource and includes a shading unit and an image generation unit. Theshading unit is capable of changing light transmissivity state. Theimage generation unit is disposed above the shading unit. The floatingimage generation unit is disposed above the image generation unit. Whenthe shading unit is in a first light transmissivity state, the lightsource emits a light passing through the shading unit, the imagegeneration unit, and the floating image generation unit to generate afirst floating image. When the shading unit is in a second lighttransmissivity state, the light source emits a light passing through theshading unit, the image generation unit, and the floating imagegeneration unit to generate a second floating image.

In one embodiment, the floating image generation device includes a lightsource, an image generation module, and a floating image generationunit. The image generation module is disposed above the light source andincludes a shading unit and an image generation unit. The imagegeneration unit includes a first translucent unit and a secondtranslucent unit disposed in the shading unit. The floating imagegeneration unit is disposed above the image generation unit. The lightsource emits a first light passing through the first translucent unitand the floating image generation unit to generate a third floatingimage. The light source emits a second light passing through the secondtranslucent unit and the floating image generation unit to generate afourth floating image.

The floating image touch-control device of the present inventionincludes the floating image generation device and a sensing moduledisposed on the floating image generation device. The image generated bythe floating image generation device changes when the sensing modulesenses a touch-control motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a floating imagetouch-control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a floating imagegeneration device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an image generationunit in a floating image generation device according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a shading unit in afloating image generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a shading unit in afloating image generation device in a first light transmissivity stateaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a shading unit in afloating image generation device in a second light transmissivity stateaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of an imagegeneration unit in a floating image generation device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of a shading unitin a floating image generation device according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of an imagegeneration unit in a floating image generation device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of a shading unitin a floating image generation device according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a movingdevice in a floating image generation device according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of a floatingimage generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of a floatingimage generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of different embodiment of an imagegeneration module in a floating image generation device according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of a connection assembly disclosed by the presentinvention are described below by using particular and specificembodiments with reference to the drawings, and a person skilled in theart may learn of advantages and effects of the present invention fromthe disclosure of this specification. However, the following disclosureis not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention,and a person skilled in the art may carry out the present invention byusing other different embodiments based on different viewpoints withoutdeparting from the concept and spirit of the present invention. In theaccompanying drawings, plate thicknesses of layers, films, panels,regions, and the like are enlarged for clarity. Throughout thespecification, same reference numerals indicate same elements. It shouldbe understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region orsubstrate is referred to as being “on” or “connected” to anotherelement, it may be directly on or connected to the another element, orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” anotherelement, there is no intervening element present. As used herein,“connection” may refer to a physical and/or electrical connection.Further, “electrical connecting” or “coupling” may indicate that anotherelement exists between two elements.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and thelike that are used in the present disclosure can be used for describingvarious elements, components, regions, layers and/or portions, but theelements, components, regions, layers and/or portions are not limited bythe terms. The terms are merely used to distinguish one element,component, region, layer, or portion from another element, component,region, layer, or portion. Therefore, the “first element”, “component”,“region”, “layer”, or “portion” discussed below may be referred to as asecond element, component, region, layer, or portion without departingfrom the teaching of this disclosure.

In addition, relative terms, such as “down” or “bottom” and “up” or“top”, are used to describe a relationship between an element andanother element, as shown in the figures. It should be understood thatthe relative terms are intended to include different orientations of adevice in addition to orientations shown in the figures. For example, ifa device in a figure is turned over, an element that is described to beon a “lower” side of another element is directed to be on an “upper”side another element. Therefore, the exemplary terms “down” may includeorientations of “down” and “up” and depends on a particular orientationof an accompanying drawing. Similarly, if a device in a figure is turnedover, an element that is described as an element “below” another elementor an element “below” is directed to be “above” another element.Therefore, the exemplary terms “below” or “below” may includeorientations of up and down.

As used herein, “about”, “approximately”, or “substantially” isinclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range ofdeviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinaryskill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the errorassociated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., thelimitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” can meanwithin one or more standard deviations, or within ±30%, ±20%, ±10%, ±5%of the stated value. Further, as used herein, “about”, “approximately”,or “substantially” may depend on optical properties, etch properties, orother properties to select a more acceptable range of deviations orstandard deviations without one standard deviation for all properties.

As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1 , the floating image generationdevice 800 of the present invention includes a light source 100, animage generation module 200, and a floating image generation unit 300.More particularly, the floating image generation device 800 is capableof generating changeable floating images on the side of the floatingimage generation unit 300 that is opposite to the light source 100.Moreover, the floating image generation device 800 can be used inconjunction with a sensing module 400 to form a floating imagetouch-control device 900 of the present invention. The image generatedby the floating image generation device 800 changes when the sensingmodule 400 senses a touch-control motion in a sensing area 700.

As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 2 , the image generation module 200is disposed above the light source 100 and includes a shading unit 210and an image generation unit 220. The shading unit 210 is capable ofchanging light transmissivity state by restricting the route of a light101 emitted by the light source 100 passing through the shading unit210, i.e., by controlling the portion of the shading unit 210 throughwhich the light 101 emitted by the light source 100 can pass. The imagegeneration unit 220 is disposed above the shading unit 210, wherein thepattern to be generated as the floating image is disposed on the imagegeneration unit 220. In different embodiments, the image generation unit220 can be photographic films, masks, OLED, etc. The floating imagegeneration unit 300 is disposed above the image generation unit 220. Inan embodiment, the floating image generation unit 300 is a micro-lensarray, which can include single-side or dual-side converging lensstructures and can be formed by processes such as UV-imprinting,injection, heat-pressing, etc. After passing through the shading unit210 and the image generation unit 220, the light emitted by the lightsource 100 can generate a floating image on the side of the floatingimage generation unit 300 that is opposite to the light source 100 viathe refraction of the floating image generation unit 300. When theshading unit 210 is in a first light transmissivity state, the lightsource 100 emits a light 101 passing through the shading unit 210, theimage generation unit 220, and the floating image generation unit 300 togenerate a first floating image. When the shading unit 210 is in asecond light transmissivity state, the light source 100 emits a light101 passing through the shading unit 210, the image generation unit 220,and the floating image generation unit 300 to generate a second floatingimage.

More particularly, as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3A, the imagegeneration unit 220 includes a plurality of first image generation areas221 and a plurality of second image generation areas 222 which areadjacent to each other and are distributed in a chessboard pattern. Inother words, in an embodiment, two first image generation areas 221 andtwo second image generation areas 222 form a 2*2 chessboard patternunit, wherein in the 2*2 chessboard pattern unit, two first imagegeneration areas 221 are distributed in opposite corners and two secondimage generation areas 222 are distributed in opposite corners.Correspondingly, as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3B, the shading unit210 includes a plurality of shading areas 212 and a plurality oftranslucent areas 211 which are adjacent to each other and aredistributed in a chessboard pattern.

As shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 3C and 3D, since the shading unit210 is disposed on the light source 100 (as shown in FIG. 2 ), the lightemitted by the light source 100 can only pass through the translucentareas 211 of the shading unit 210 to arrive at the image generation unit220 disposed above the shading unit 210. Accordingly, the shading unit210 can change the location of the translucent areas 211 with respect tothe light source 100 by level shifting and restrict the route of a light101 emitted by the light source 100 passing through the shading unit210, i.e., control the portion of the shading unit 210 through which alight 101 emitted by the light source 100 can pass, to achieve theeffect of changing the light transmissivity states. In the embodiment,the shading unit 210 changes between the first light transmissivitystate as shown in FIG. 3C and the second light transmissivity state asshown in FIG. 3D by level shifting.

More particularly, as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3C, when theshading unit 210 moves to the first position 201, it is in the firstlight transmissivity state, wherein the vertical projection of aplurality of translucent areas 211 on the projection plane parallel tothe light source 100 (as shown in FIG. 2 ) overlaps the verticalprojection of the first image generation areas 221 on the projectionplane. The light 101 emitted by the light source 100 can pass throughthe translucent areas 211 to arrive at the first image generation areas221 having patterns such as symbol “A” and then pass through the firstimage generation areas 221 and the floating image generation unit 300(as shown in FIG. 2 ) to generate a first floating image such as symbol“A”. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3D, when the shading unit 210moves to the second position 202, it is in the second lighttransmissivity state, wherein the vertical projection of a plurality oftranslucent areas 211 on the projection plane parallel to the lightsource 100 overlaps the vertical projection of the second imagegeneration areas 222 on the projection plane. The light 101 emitted bythe light source 100 can pass through the translucent areas 211 toarrive at the second image generation areas 222 having patterns such assymbol “B” and then pass through the second image generation areas 222and the floating image generation unit 300 to generate a second floatingimage such as symbol “B”. In an embodiment, the size of each of theshading areas is 0 to 30% larger than the size of each of thetranslucent areas to ensure sufficient light shading of the shadingareas and improve the quality of the floating image.

In different embodiments, a plurality of first image generation areas221 and a plurality of second image generation areas 222 of the imagegeneration unit 220 are not limited to being adjacent to each other anddistributed in a 2*2 chessboard pattern, and a plurality of shadingareas 212 and a plurality of translucent areas 211 of the shading unit210 are not limited to being adjacent to each other and distributed in a2*2 chessboard pattern. As shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 4A and 4B,for example, a plurality of first image generation areas 221, aplurality of second image generation areas 222, and a plurality of thirdimage generation areas 223 of the image generation unit 220 are adjacentto each other and distributed in a 3*3 chessboard pattern.Correspondingly, a plurality of shading areas 212 and a plurality oftranslucent areas 211 of the shading unit 210 are not limited to beingadjacent to each other and distributed in a 3*3 chessboard pattern. Asshown in the embodiments in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the image generation unit220 is a circular disc, wherein the first image generation area 221, thesecond image generation area 222, the third image generation area 223,and the fourth image generation area 224 are disposed in sequence and ina circular sector distribution. Correspondingly, the shading unit 210 isalso a circular disc, wherein the translucent areas 211 are disposed ina circular sector distribution between the remaining shading areas. Inthis embodiment, the shading unit 210 changes between different lighttransmissivity states by rotating.

As shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the shading unit 210 canachieve the effect of moving by way of a moving device 230. Moreparticularly, the moving device 230 includes a support 231 and a drivingdevice 232 such as an electromagnetic fine motion device. The shadingunit 210 and the light source 100 are disposed on the support 231,wherein the floating image generation unit 300 and the image generationunit 220 are disposed on a frame 500. The driving device 232 can drivethe support 231 to move and hence makes the shading unit 210 move. Inother words, in this embodiment, the shading unit 210 and the lightsource 100 can move together with the support 231 with respect to theframe 500. As shown in a different embodiment in FIG. 6B, only theshading unit 210 is disposed on the support 231, wherein the lightsource 100 is fixed on the frame 500. In other words, in thisembodiment, only the shading unit 210 and the support 231 move withrespect to the frame 500. As shown in a different embodiment in FIG. 6C,for an environment having a smaller light emitting range (such as asingle sensing button), the light source 100 can be a point lightsource, wherein the structures and directions of the components such asthe support 231 and the driving device 232 can be modified.

In the foregoing embodiments, the shading unit 210 changes the locationof the translucent areas 211 with respect to the light source 100 bylevel shifting, hence achieving the effect of changing the lighttransmissivity state. In different embodiments, however, thecorresponding position of the shading unit 210 can be fixed, and thelight transmissivity state can be changed by changing the form of theshading unit 210. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 7 , the shadingunit 210 includes a liquid crystal module, wherein the shading unit 210restricts the route of a light 101 emitted by the light source 100passing through the shading unit 210, i.e., the shading unit 210controls the portion of the shading unit 210 through which the light 101emitted by the light source 100 can pass by changing the shading areaand the translucent area generated by the liquid crystal module, toachieve the effect of changing the light transmissivity states.

In different embodiments, the shading unit and the image generation unitcan be incorporated into one component, i.e., making one componenthaving both the shading unit and the image generation unit andcontrolling the color of the light emitted by the light source toachieve the aforementioned effect of changing the generated floatingimage. More particularly, as shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 8A and8B, the floating image generation device 800 includes a light source100, an image generation module 200′, and a floating image generationunit 300. The image generation module 200′ is disposed above the lightsource 100. The floating image generation unit 300 is disposed above theimage generation unit 220′. The image generation module 200′ includes ashading unit 210′ and an image generation unit 220′. The imagegeneration unit 220 includes a first translucent unit 221′ and a secondtranslucent unit 222′ in the shading unit 210′. From a different pointof view, the shading unit 210′ in this embodiment shades the lightentirely, wherein the first translucent unit 221′ and the secondtranslucent unit 222′ embedded in the shading unit 210′ allow particularlight to pass through. For example, the first translucent unit 221′allows a first light to pass through, wherein the second translucentunit 222′ allows a second light to pass through. The color of the firstlight and the color of the second light are preferably complementarycolors. For example, the color of the first light and the color of thesecond light are respectively red and cyan. As such, when the lightsource 100 emits the first light, the first light can pass through thefirst translucent unit 221′ and the floating image generation unit 300to generate a third floating image such as rings. When the light source100 emits the second light, the second light can pass through the secondtranslucent unit 222′ and the floating image generation unit 300 togenerate a fourth floating image such as crosses.

Accordingly, the floating image generation device 800 of the presentinvention is capable of making the generated floating images changeable.More particularly, in the floating image touch-control device 900 of thepresent invention, when the sensing module 400 senses a touch-controlmotion in a sensing area 700, the sensing module 400 generates a signalto drive the shading unit 210 to change the light transmissivity state,hence making the image generated by the floating image generation device800 change. Therefore, a user can visually confirm whether hesuccessfully touch-controls the floating image touch-control device 900when he operates the same, hence having a better user experience.

The present invention is described by means of the above-describedrelevant embodiments. However, the above-described embodiments are onlyexamples for implementing the present invention. It should be pointedout that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the presentinvention. In contrast, the spirit included in the scope of the patentapplication and modifications and equivalent settings made within thescope are all included in the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A floating image generation device, comprising: alight source; an image generation module disposed above the lightsource, including: a shading unit capable of changing lighttransmissivity state; and an image generation unit disposed above theshading unit; and a floating image generation unit disposed above theimage generation unit; wherein when the shading unit is in a first lighttransmissivity state, the light source emits a light passing through theshading unit, the image generation unit, and the floating imagegeneration unit to generate a first floating image; wherein when theshading unit is in a second light transmissivity state, the light sourceemits a light passing through the shading unit, the image generationunit, and the floating image generation unit to generate a secondfloating image.
 2. The floating image generation device according toclaim 1, wherein the shading unit includes a plurality of shading areasand a plurality of translucent areas which are adjacent to each otherand are distributed in a chessboard pattern.
 3. The floating imagegeneration device according to claim 2, wherein the shading unit changesbetween the first light transmissivity state and the second lighttransmissivity state by level shifting between a first location and asecond location.
 4. The floating image generation device according toclaim 1, wherein the shading unit is a circular disc including aplurality of shading areas and a plurality of translucent areas incircular sector distribution.
 5. The floating image generation deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the shading unit changes between the firstlight transmissivity state and the second light transmissivity state byrotating between a first location and a second location.
 6. The floatingimage generation device according to claim 1, wherein the imagegeneration unit includes a plurality of first image generation areas anda plurality of second image generation areas which are adjacent to eachother and are distributed in a chessboard pattern, wherein when theshading unit is in a first light transmissivity state, the verticalprojection of a plurality of translucent areas on a projection planeparallel to the light source overlaps the vertical projection of thefirst image generation areas on the projection plane, wherein when theshading unit is in a second light transmissivity state, the verticalprojection of a plurality of translucent areas on the projection planeoverlaps the vertical projection of the second image generation areas onthe projection plane.
 7. The floating image generation device accordingto claim 2, wherein the size of each of the shading areas is 0 to 30%larger than the size of each of the translucent areas.
 8. The floatingimage generation device according to claim 1, wherein the shading unitincludes a liquid crystal module, wherein the shading unit changes thelight transmissivity state by changing a shading area and a translucentarea generated by the liquid crystal module.
 9. The floating imagegeneration device according to claim 1, wherein a refraction occurs to alight emitted by the light source when it passes through the floatingimage generation unit.
 10. A floating image generation device,comprising: a light source; an image generation module disposed abovethe light source, including: a shading unit; and an image generationunit including a first translucent unit and a second translucent unitdisposed in the shading unit; and a floating image generation unitdisposed above the image generation unit; wherein the light source emitsa first light passing through the first translucent unit and thefloating image generation unit to generate a third floating image;wherein the light source emits a second light passing through the secondtranslucent unit and the floating image generation unit to generate afourth floating image.
 11. The floating image generation deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the color of the first light and the colorof the second light are complementary colors.
 12. A floating imagetouch-control device, comprising: the floating image generation deviceaccording to claim 1; a sensing module disposed on the floating imagegeneration device, wherein the image generated by the floating imagegeneration device changes when the sensing module senses a touch-controlmotion.
 13. A floating image touch-control device, comprising: thefloating image generation device according to claim 10; a sensing moduledisposed on the floating image generation device, wherein the imagegenerated by the floating image generation device changes when thesensing module senses a touch-control motion.
 14. The floating imagegeneration device according to claim 4, wherein the size of each of theshading areas is 0 to 30% larger than the size of each of thetranslucent areas.